From healthful ingredients, to sustainable choices, to great-tasting indulgences, consumers want to feel good about the foods they eat. To help brands create the food consumers are craving, Ardent Mills surveyed over 10,000 Americans for its nclick="javascript:window.open('https://www.ardentmills.com/trend-to-table/', '_blank', 'noopener'); return false;">recent Trend to Table report, unveiling the top five industry trends to watch:

1. Taking a closer look at ingredients: Most (85% of) consumers said ingredients influence their food choices, and almost 60% would pay more for foods made with whole and/or less-processed ingredients.
2. Defining food identity: More than half (51%) of survey respondents said food is part of their identity, and this sentiment is even higher among consumers ages 18-34 (64%). For 63%, childhood experiences and family traditions shape what they eat today, but 60% also want to expand their tastes by trying new foods, flavors, and ingredients.
3. Pursuing healthful changes: Eight in 10 consumers feel that “good for you” foods are important to their dietary goals and priorities. More specifically, younger consumers, ages 18-24, are more likely to adopt plant-based eating as a goal than those 55 and older (46% compared to 18%), and more than half (52%) of consumers overall agree that grain-based foods are a cost-effective way to eat nutritiously.
4. Measuring environmental impact: More than half (53%) of respondents said they believe their food choices can have a positive impact on the planet, but 57% want more information on this topic. Many consumers cited sustainable or regenerative agriculture practices (49%) and lower carbon footprint (41%) as important to their dietary goals and priorities.
5. Making no apologies: “Great tasting foods” are a key dietary component for 92% of consumers, and 68% prioritize “rewarding and treating” themselves. 

See nclick="javascript:window.open('https://www.ardentmills.com/trend-to-table/', '_blank', 'noopener'); return false;">the full report for more insights.